The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-12-29
THE MIDNIGHT MAIL

I received Telegram callipF 'of ~! P'fS
.uce in London esfly the uert morning
90 40 important bnsiness matter To such
summons there vas bn. one answer poe
sible. 40, With lusi reere,iul though, Tor
card parry shoold have 10 foreeo, !
l wired back this reply;
( Mn. J. DKyos. Ander,on' Hotel. London
Shall leave BaTl0sn by the ~ to- night
aud will call on you TO- morrow at 10
KMoHrLr
Having despatched my message, ma
ished of the days work With all speed
and then raturped TO my lodgings TO make
preparations for my journey These, as
the mssculiue reader need not be told,
consisted principally OF crammiue soft
cap aud spiri, flask, together with fr~
other necessaries. iuto carpet bag, after
which followed the discussion OF hearty
meal, and the delivery OF an exhotiation
TO my landlady to feed my ior terrier,
Grip. at bis usual hours
The remainder oi the evening was spent
10 skimming over the mornings paper
wherein found little to interest me. 10
disgust flung the thing on the floor II
aliphted att graceful soglc, on whose
speI appeared the heading, conspicuous
rs loaded type could make IL SHOCK
ing Wife Murder 10 Ruriown Arrest oil
the Murderer
With mental apology to the publish I
ers OF the Chronicle for the injustice
had done them as caterers to the public
craving for horrors, picked up the paper
and proceeded to digest the "harroSine
details. +"
The gist OF the news was as follows
An abandoned rufiian. Chippy watson
by name, hal, after the fashion OF his
class, beaten 10 his wife's skull with
mallet, 10 consequence OF some domestic
disagreement Having committed the
deed. he coolly put on his bat and coal
and was proceeding to depart, when the
neigbbors aud police, attracted by the
screams OF the unfortunate victim, rushed
10 aud secured him. This was all, oil
D nearly sll the paragraph contained, ex'
Q cept for the usual information that "tht
prisoner will be brought up before th'
magistrates this morning and charged
with causing the wilful murder OF hi'
wife,"
II was now past eleven lime for me Z
make my way down to the station; rathe
more than time, 10 fact, since that impos
ing structure was distant from my lodg
. ings by fully two miles. Fortunately m!
! bag was light. and shared in its pleas
I ing Characteristic Of being unburdened b.
superfluous weight. None the less, OF
reaching my destination there was onl!
. one minute left me wherein to take m.
). ticket and secure seat The latter op
GRAFTON, thanks TO the slowness OF th
booking clerk in handing me my change
had to be accomplished by running th
gauntlet OF the guards and porters as tn
!. train began to move.
No sooner bad ascertained that m.
, limbs we're uninjured by the unceremo
nious fashion in which the railway OFF
cials had "assisted" me to my seat, than
discovered that the only other tenant
the compartment 10 which was enscon
ced, was young lady, and one, moreove
OF no small beauty. Now am shy ma
IS far as the fair sex 10 concerned. Amonl
men have self possession enough and t.
spare; but in the presence OF ladies tha
self possession vanishes with most uncall
: ed for rapidity. In the presenceof ladies
yes; but here there was but one, who wa
/, bound to keep me company for Who'll
hour. until the train should make its frs
stop. So it happened that, as ! studIe'
the charms Of my vis-a.vls from benin
q the evening paper, which i bad time
boy on my flight to the station, measur
OF my courage returned, and IN the iDspir
iting words OF Mr.. Gilbert said to my
self. "I'll take heart and make start
faint heart never won fair lady"
II trust you we're not alarmed by IN
Y unceremopious entry p remarked. wit
] some serious misgivings, but much out
ward assurance.
For answer quiet stare and tlieh
contration OF the pretty mouth oi m
com panion = indicating her opinion thai
IS stranger and unintroduced, had D
right to speak TO ber.
~ This to an ordinary male animal was th
moment for strategic attack upon the fal
ones scruples; for me it was the eia'
opposite the moment for fight had iiigh
been possible Ostrich Ike, buried IN
face behind my newspaper--ihere bein
no sand available and in few moment
heard, TO my relief, corresponding rustl
from the opposite side OF the carriage :
my pretty prude followed suit. The sens
OF defest aud disgrace fairly overwhelme
me for while, aud my eyes wsndere
over the paper ! held in my hand, seeir
but understanding oot what they saw.
length they lighted upon familiar nam
"Cbippy Watson, and their owner re
covered bis senses and almost forgot b
grief ss be read the following lines:
The Burtown Murder - Escape OF u
Prisoner" After detailing the inciden
or the hearing before the magistrates AZ
the remand OF the prisoner, pending u
inquest the paragraph went on . follow
"on leaving the court, Watson was col
ducted between four officers to the va
just Is be was stepping 10, aud when q
policemen were endesroring TO keep bsi
the crowd thsi pressed siound, the pri
oner suddenly snapped bis hsndcufs,